A/N: Short detour now. I contimplated making it a separate story but the events are too important to this one. So i guess it's not really a detour, just . . . enriching the story by expanding the character base. . . ya, that sounds pretty good. Enjoy .
xxx
Atemu stood at the final door.
The one to take him to the afterlife
To paradise
He lifted his hand to open it.
And stopped.
He dropped his hand back to his side.
Again.
He'd been standing there for a long time now.
Just standing and staring.
Unable to open the door and take the final step.
All the others had long since moved on.
Mana and Mahadoo had met him after he left Yugi and the others.
Greeted him warmly with hugs and kind words.
Exalted at their triumph over the darkness.
Others had also stayed to meet the pharaoh in that odd place of limbo.
Even though their part in the battle was over,
They had stayed.
Not wanting to leave before seeing the outcome.
They had all shared in his victory.
And then one at a time,
They stepped through the door,
To claim their place and their prize,
Fully expecting Atemu to follow.
Finally they had gone and only he was left.
He stood alone.
Silence blanketed the place.
Then darkness and shadows followed.
And still he stood.
Thinking.
Now that the fates had played themselves out,
Now that evil had been vanquished,
Now that his world was safe,
He wondered.
What if.
What if the world's fate hadn't rested on his shoulders.
What if he had been left along to live a normal life.
In Egypt
Or in the future.
He wondered if he had to step beyond.
Did he want to claim his rewards.
Or did he want to go back.
And take as his prize
The life he never had a chance to live.
He stood in the dark.
Listening to the shadows.
And the mournful cries of a dragon.
xxx
Time continued to pass
He still couldn't bring himself to move on
He wanted to turn around
To look for a way back
But he couldn't move
So he just stood
Trapped in his own hesitation.
You can't go back you know
The shadows whispered to him
The way is prepared for you here
Paradise earned by your sacrifices
In the past and present
You can't go back
There's no place for you there
Go back to what?
Continue to drift as a spirit?
There's no body waiting for you
Yugi has surely moved on already
He has his own life to live
He won't take you back but for pity
And you wouldn't want his pity
You wouldn't want to hold him back
Leach off his life force
Constantly drain his will
Step forward
Silly pharaoh
You've earned it
Enjoy your reward
Leave this place
It's for your own good
The voice was right
He knew it was right
But still
Yugi